The Walton Family Foundation

Who We Are

For nearly three decades, the Walton Family Foundation has continued the philanthropic vision begun by Walmart founders Sam and Helen Walton. They had an unshakable belief in the power of individuals to transform their lives. Today the Walton Family Foundation, led by Sam and Helen’s children and grandchildren, focuses on awarding grants that drive not just incremental, but transformative, change.

We envision a future where every child has access to high-quality educational choices that prepare him or her for a lifetime of opportunity, and we’ve placed a high priority on investing in K-12 education. Learn more >

We believe that a healthy environment drives a strong economy. Around the world we support economic incentives for sustainable resource management, and we will continue to work toward lasting, common sense conservation. Learn more >

We’re focused on giving back to the area that the Walton family calls home – working to create and sustain long-term economic development opportunities that will measurably improve the quality of life across northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta region. Learn more >

“We are going to approach philanthropy with the same lack of reverence we gave to the traditional retail business when we started out there. We are going to see if we can’t shake up some of the time-honored assumptions about what you can teach people…and about how you can motivate ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”

- Sam Walton, Made in America: My Story

During 2014, the foundation invested more than $375 million in domestic and international projects that addressed significant social and environmental issues, and sought to create exciting new opportunities.

Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, with offices in Washington, D.C.; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Denver, Colorado, a staff/consultant base of approximately 68 associates conducts day-to-day operations.

While there are unmistakable similarities when it comes to Walmart founders and a vision of a better life for individuals and communities, the Walton Family Foundation exists independently of the Walmart Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Walmart. Each of these foundations operates with separate sources of funding and governance.